Romans 13:8-14 (NRSV)
Read Romans 13:8-14 on biblegateway.com
Verse 8Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. Verse 9The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet"; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, "Love your neighbor as yourself." Verse 10Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.
Verse 11Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; Verse 12the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; Verse 13let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Verse 14Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Devotion
It might be difficult to imagine living in such a way or at such a time that we owe no one anything. Between mortgages, student loans and utility bills, for many of us, it seems as though something is always due. Yet what Paul is talking about here is not necessarily how we handle our finances. Rather, what Paul is talking about here is how we handle our relationships with one another. And what Paul tells us is the same thing Jesus instructed us to do. We are to "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love is the characteristic that is to undergird all of our behavior and interactions with others. Love is the defining mark of the Christian life. As the old yet familiar song refrain goes, "They will know we are Christians by our love."
Prayer
Loving God, help us to love others as you love us, that through us they may come to know you more. In your name we pray, Amen.